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THE 

FAITHFUL  SERVANT  REWARDED: 


SERMON, 

DELIVERED  at  PRINCETON, 

BEFORE     THE     BOARD     OF    TRUSTEES   OF    THE    COLLEGE    OF 
NEW-JERSEY,  MAV  6,  I795,  OCCASIONED  BY  THE  DEATH  OF 

The  Rev.  JOHN  WITHERSPOON,  d.  d.  l.  l.  d, 

PRESIDENT  OF  SAID  COLLEGE. 


By  JOHN  RODGERS,  d.  d. 

SENIOR    MINISTER   OF   THE    UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCHES,    IN    THE    CITY    OF   NEW-YORK. 


NEW- YORK— minted   by  THOMAS  GREENLEAF. 

*795« 

J 

J 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

TREfollowing  difcourfe  was  prepared  at  theprej- 
ing  requejl  of  a  number  of  the  truflees  of  the  col- 
lege, to  be  delivered  at  the  jirji  meeting  of  the  board 
after  the  late  prejidenl' s  death.  This  meeting  zvas  una- 
voidably delayed  until  the  fifth  injlant ;  as  the  truftees 
wifhed  to  fill  the  vacant  chair,  the  firfi  time  they  met 
— but  this  could  not  be  done,  by  an  ordinance  of  the 
board,  of  an  early  date,  until  after  a  certain  period  from 
the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the  vacancy. 

The  board  being  met,  they  paffed  the  following  re~ 
folves  : 

May  5th.  On  motion  refolved  unanimoufty,  that  the. 
reverend  Dr.  Rodgers  be  requejled  to  preach  a  funeral 
fermon  on  the  death  of  the  reverend  Dr.  Witherfpoon, 
late  prejident  of  the  college,  to-morrow,  at  11  o'clock 
A.  M.  in  the  church. 

May  6th.  The  board  attended  upon  the  delivery  of 
the  fermon  on  the  death  of  the  late  prefident,  and  hav- 
ing met— On  motion  refolved  unanimoufly,  that  the 
thanks  of  the  board  be  given  to  Dr.  Rodgers  for  his 
fermon  ;  and  that  Dr.  Boudinot,  Mr.  Roe  and  Col. 
Bayard,  be  a  committee  to  requeft  a  copy  for  publica- 
tion. 

WALTER  MINTO, 

Clerk  of  the  Board. 
New-York,  May  15th,  1795. 


■i—iwiiw«»!Mr*  "■"  ■ 


THE 


FAITHFUL  SERVANT  REWARDED. 


MATTHEW  xxv.  ai. 


"  His  Lord  [aid  unto  himt  Well  done  thou  good  and 
faithful  Servant  ;  thou  hajl  been  faithful  over  a  few 
things>  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things  ; 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Loi'd." 

THE  doclrine  of  a  future  ftate  of  rewards  and 
punifhments,  lies  deep  at  the  foundation  of 
our  holy  religion  :   It  is  a  do&rine  perfectly  con- 
fonant  to  rcafon,  and  fupported  by  it  j  and  is  either 
afferted,  or  juftly  taken  for  granted,  in  every  page 
of  the  facred  oracles.     This  is  the  immortality,  for 
the  bleffednefs  of  which  we  became  incapacitated, 
by  our  apoftacy  from  God  ;  and  that.for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  which,  it  is  one  great  defign  of  the  religion 
of  Jefus  Chrift  to  prepare  us.     The  whole  frame 
of  this   religion   is  wifely  calculated  for  this  end. 
Among  the  many  evidences  of  thefe  truths,  we  may 
appeal  to  the  difcourfes  of  our  Divine  Mafter;  and 
particularly  to  this,  of  which  our  text  is  a  part. 

In  the  preceding  chapter,  he  had  given  his  dif- 
ciples  an  inftruftive  difcourfe  on  the  certainty  and 
folemntty  of  his  fecond  coming.  He  continues  the 
fuhjtct  in  this  chapter,  and  enforces  the  great  duty 

B 


[  '6    ] 

of  preparation  for  it,  by  the  parable  of  the  ten  vir- 
gins, from  the  firfl  verfe  to  the  thirteenth  ;  by  the 
parable  of  the  talents,  from  thence  to  the  thirtieth 
verfe  ;  and  by  a  more  particular  account  of  the 
procefs  of  the  judgment  of  the  great  day,  from 
thence  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 

The  more  immediate  defign  of  the  parable  of  the 
talents,  of  which  our  text  is  a  part,  is  to  enforce 
the  duty,  and  illuftrate  the  happinefs  of  being  pre- 
pared for  giving  up  our  ac count ,  when  he  (hall  come 
to  judge  the  world  in  fighteoufnefs.  You  may 
read  it  at  your  leifure.  The  "  man  travelling  in- 
to a  far  country,"  in  this  parable,  means  our  Lord 
himfelf ;  who  is  the  great  head  of  his  church, 
which  is  his  family.  The  "fervants,"  of  whom 
we  here  read,  mean  all  profefling  Christians  ;  all 
who  call  themfelves  the  fervants  of  Chritt,  whate- 
ver their  nation  or  denomination  may  be  ;  though 
fome  fuppofe,  theMinifters  of  the  Gofpel  are  more 
particularly  intended. 

By  the  talents,  we  are  to  understand  the  vaiious 
gifts  of  Heaven,  whether  of  a  common  or  of  a 
fpecial  nature.  They  include  the  bounties  of  Pro- 
vidence, fuch  as  health,  ftrength,  reafon,  riches, 
honour,  power,  learning,  reputation,  the  feveral 
advantages  arifing  from  our  Rations  in  life  ;  and, 
together  with  thefe,  thofe  graces  of  the  fpirit  that 
conttitute  the  Chrifiian  temper.  Thefe  are  all 
fo  many  talents  put  into  our  hands,  to  be  improved 
for  God,  and  the  belt  interests  of  our  fellow-crea- 
tures ;  and  they  are  different  to  different  perfons. 
To  one  God  gives  more  of  thefe  gifts  or  graces, 
and  to  another  lefs  •  which  is  defigned  in  the  para- 
ble by  the  matter's  giving  to  one  fervant  jive  ta- 
lents, and  to  another  two,  and  to  another  one. 


[    7     ] 

By  "  the  Lord  of  thofe  fervants  coming,  after  a 
long  time,  to  reckon  with  them,"  we  are  to  un- 
derhand that  particular  judgment  which  every  one 
pafl'es  under  at  death,  when  their  final  ftates  are 
determined  :  and  alio,  and  principally,  our  Lord's 
coming  to  judge  the  world  in  lighteoufnefs,  at  the 
lad  day,  "  When  every  one  mail  receive  the  things 
done  in  the  body,  according  to  that  he  hath  done, 
whether  it  be  good  or  bad."  At  both  thefe  fo- 
lemn  periods,  the  faithful  fervant  of  Chrift,  what- 
ever his  character  and  flation  in  life  may  have 
been,  mail  be  received  with  a  "  Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  fervant  •  thou  haft  be*en  faithful 
over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  ma- 
ny things ;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

There  are  two  things  in  thefe  words  that  parti- 
cularly deferve  our  notice.  The  character  of  thofe 
who  mall  meet  with  the  approbation  of  their  Lord, 
in  the  great  day  of  final  awards  ;  they  have  been 
good  and  faithful  fervants.  And  the  reward  fuch 
fhall  receive,  on  that  folemn  occafion,  from  the 
judge  of  quick  and  dead — They  fhall  be  each  one 
received  with  a  "  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faith- 
ful fervant ;  thou  haft  been  faithful  over  a  few- 
things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things  ; 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

Agreeably  to  this  view  of  my  text,  I  fhal], 

I.  Briefly  confider  the  character  of  the  good  and 
faithful  fervant  of  Chrift. 

II.  The  nature  of  that  reward  here  promifed  to 
all  fuch,  in  the  great  day  of  the  Lord. 

Let  us  enquire, 


[     8    1 

I.  What  is  the  character  of  the  good  and  faith- 
ful fervant  of  Chrifl:  ? 

I  have  already  faid,  this  may  be  applied  either 
to  the  difciplcs  of  Chrilt  in  general,  of  whatever 
nation,  denomination,  or  character  in  life  they 
may  be  j  or  to  the  Miniders  of  the  Gofpel  in  par- 
ticular. I  (hall  confider  the  phrafe  as  including 
both.     And  it  implies, 

l.  Love  to  Chrifl  and  his  fcrvicc. — A  good  fer- 
vant always  loves  a  good  matter.  But  it  is  necef- 
fary  to  obferve  here,  that  this  love  to  Chrill  and 
his  fervice  is  not  found  in  the  heart  of  depraved 
man,  in  his  natural  itate.  We  are  by  nature  alie- 
nated from  God  j  deftitute  of  every  principle  of 
love  to  him  and  his  fon,  Chrifl,  in  their  true  cha- 
racter. The  apoftolic  defcription  of  depraved  hu- 
man nature  is,  "  having  the  underftanding  dark- 
ened, being  alienated  from  the  life  of  God,  through 
the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  becaufe  of  the  blind- 
nefs  of  their  hearts."*  Hence  arifes  the  ncceflity 
of  being  <:  renewed  in  the  fpiritof  our  mind  ;  and 
of  putting  on  the  new  man,  which  after  God  is 
created  in  righteoufnefs  and  true  holinefs,t  But 
one  of  the  principal  conftituents  of  this  new  man 
is,  love  to  God  and  his  fon,  Chrill  Jefus.  Love 
to  God  for  his  own  divine  excellence,  as  well  as 
for  the  beneficence  of  his  hand,  to  us — and  love  to 
Chrill,  as  being  the  "  brightness  of  his  father's 
glory,  and  the  exprefs  image  of  his  pcrfon."t  The 
iincere  fervant  of  Chrilt  loves  both  his  perfon  and 
his  character.  His  foul  is  pleafed  with  him,  as  he 
is  exhibited  in  the  oracles  of  truth.  "  He  is  the 
chief  among  ten  thoufand,  and  altogether  lovely 
in  his  efteem.§     He  loves  alio  his  Jcrvice  :  He  el- 

*  Eph.  iv.  18.    t  ^r>  23>  24«     I  H*?''  »•  3'     §  Scn&  *>•  *°> l6< 


I    9     ! 

teems  his  laws  to  be  altogether  equal  and  ju! 
This  is  the  native  effect  of  his  love  to  hi^  per- 
fon and  his  government  :  "  For  this  is  the  love  of 
God,  that  we  keep  his  commandments,  and  ba 
commandments  are  not  grievous."*  The  love  wc 
bear  to  the  perfon  of  Chriii,  in  proportion  to  its 
prevalence,  will  not  only  induce  us  to  obedience, 
but  render  that  obedience  eafy  and  delightful — 
We  delight  to  oblige  thofe  whom  we  love. 

2.  The  good  and  faithful  fervant  of  Chrifl  loves 
his  fdhw-jervants — lie  considers  them  as  children 
of  the  fame  common  father  with  himfelf  :  and  we 
read,  that  "  every  one  that  loveth  him  who  begat, 
lovcth  him  alio  who  is  begotten  of  him."t  He 
confiders  them  as  redeemed  by  the  fame  precious 
blood  of  Chrift  ;  and  £3  the  fubjects  of  the  fame 
fanctifying  and  comforting  influences  of  the  fpirit 
of  grace,  which  are  the  common  priviledge  of 
every  true  Chriftian  •  for  "  if  any  man  have  not 
the  fpirit  of  Chrift,  he  is  none  of  his."  £  He  con- 
fiders  them  as  engaged  in  the  fame  common  caule 
with  himfelf  ;  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift,  and  the  illuftration  of  the  honour  of  God 
in  our  world.  Thefe  are  the  great  ends  the  good 
and  faithful  fervants  of  Chrift  have  in  view,  howe- 
ver they  may  differ  in  forne  of  the  modes  of  pur- 
fuing  them.  Yet  this  difference  does  not  forfeit 
their  love,  or  deftroy  their  charity  for  each  other. 
If  the  perfon  whofe  character  I  defcribe,  cannot 
agree  to  agree  with  his  brethren,  in  denomination, 
or  mode  of  worfhip,  he  will  agree  to  differ  with 
them — He  will  agree  thev  fhould  think  and  a£t  for 
themfelves,  in  matters  of  fuch  infinite  concern  j 
a  priviledge  he  juitly  claims  to  himfelf.  And  in 
how  many  things  foever  the  difciplesof  Chrift  may 

*  I  "John  v.  3.     1 1  John  v.  l,     %  Rom.  Djf*£  n, 


[   .io     ] 

differ  in  matters  of  leiTer  moment,  they  will  all 
agree  in  loving  their  Mailer,  his  honour,  his  truth, 
and  his  fervice — They  will  agree  in  adorning  their 
profeffion  in  all  godlinels  of  converfation. 

Again — The  good  and  faithful  fervant  confiders 
his  fellow-difciples  as  in  the  fame  vale  of  tears,  and 
in  the  fame  (late  of  imperfection  and  trial  with  him- 
felf  ;  and,  therefore,  that  both  they  and  he  ftand 
in  need  of  mutual  fympathy,  charity,  and  forbear- 
ance, one  towards  another.  In  a  word,  he  con- 
fiders them  as  heirs  of  the  fame  future  glory  with 
himfelf  ;  as  "  travelling  to  the  fame  city,  which 
hath  foundations,  whofe  builder  and  maker  is 
God  ;"  and  that,  therefore,  they  ought  not  to  dif- 
fer by  the  way. 

Of  fuch  importance  is  this  brotherly  love,  in 
the  Eftimation  of  our  Lord,  that  he  not  only  enjoins 
it  unon  his  difciples  as  their  duty,  but  as  their  dif- 
tinguiming  and  charaaeriftic  duty  ;  that  duty  which 
more  Itrongly  marks  their  character  as  his  difciples 
than  almoftany  other  ;  and  that  by  which  they  are 
efpecially  to  diftinguilh  themfelves  from  the  men 
of  the  world.  You,  therefore,  hear  him  fay,  "  A 
new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love 
one  another  ;  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  alfo 
love  one  another.  By  this  (hall  all  men  know  that 
ye  are  my  difciples.  if  ye  have  love  one  to  ano- 
ther."* 

3.  Diligence  in  his   Lord's   work,  is  another  in-  , 
gredient  in  the  charaBer  of  the  good   and  faithful 
fervant.     You  will  eahly  perceive  the  abfurdity  of 
a  good,  and  at  the  fame  time  a  Jlothful  fervant,  in 
common  life  ;  and  it  b  ftill  more  fo  in  the  cafe  be^- 

*  John  xiii   34;  35. 


[  II  ] 

fore  us.     We  all  have  our  work  in  life  afligned  us, 

in  the  courfe  of  a  wife  Providence  :  and  this  is 
two  fold,  our  general  bufinefs  as  men  and  Chrif- 
tians,  and  the  fpecial  bufinefs  of  our  refpective  fta- 
tions.  Both  thefe  are  fruitful  of  a  variety  of  du- 
ties, too  numerous  to  be  recited  in  this  place — 
They  embrace  the  whole  compafs  of  duty,  both 
moral  and  pofitive,  that  we  owe  to  our  God,  our 
neighbour,  or  ourfelves.  Nor  is  there  a  fingle 
character  we  fuftain,  or  relation  we  bear,  in  either 
of  thofe'views,  but  what  is  the  fource  of  important 
duties.  And  if  you  confider  the  variety  and  mul- 
tiplicity of  thefe  relations  and  connexions,  you  will 
readily  perceive  thefe  duties  mult  be  numerous, 
as  well  as  important.  But  all  thefe  are  lo  many 
claims  on  the  diligence  of  the  fervants  of  Chrift; 
fo  many  obligations  on  them  to  be  "  not  ilothful  in 
bufinefs,  but  fervent  in  fpirit,  ferving  the  Lord."* 
We  mult  be  diligent  too,  that  one  duty  may  not  in- 
terfere with  another,  for  every  thing  is  beautiful 
its  feafon. 

Again — Diligence  is  implied  in  the  idea  of  faith- 
fulncfs ;  for  the  fervant  cannot  be  faithful  who  is 
not  diligent.  No  man  ever  employed  a  fervant  to 
run  idle  ;  nor  can  any  thing  be  more  contrary  to 
the.  delign  for  which  Heaven  has  made  us,  than  a 
life  of  lloth  and  idlenefs,  unlefs  it  be  a  life  of  open 
and  undifguifed  prophanenefs.  The  author  of  our 
lives  has  lufficiently  marked  the  great  end  for 
which  he  made  us,  upon  the  aelive  powers  with 
which  he  has  endowed  us — And  this  diligence  is 
to  be  particularly  employed  in  the  dilcharge  of  the 
duties  of  our  feveral  Rations  in  life.  This  is  one 
way,  among  others,  by  which  we  are  to  bring  forth 
fruit  to  the  honour  of  our  Lord.     "  And  herein," 

*  Romans  xii.  n. 


L    *?   ] 

v. 

faith  our  Saviour,  "  is  my  father  glorified,  that  you 
bear  much  fruit ;  i'o  mail  ye  be  my  difciples."* 

4.  The  good  and  faithful  fervant  has  ajincere  rc- 
gtird  to  his  tnafiefs  honour.  This  is  the  end  at 
which  he  wifhes  and  ftudics  to  aim,  in  all  his  ac- 
tions ;  agreeably  to  the  Divine  command,  "  Whe- 
ther ye  eat  or  drink,  or  whatfoever  ye  do,  do  all 
to  the  glory  ©f  God."t  And  in  this  the  fervant  of 
Chrift  accords  with  his  mailer  ;  the  great  end  of 
whofe  incarnation,  atonement,  and  intercefiion,  on 
the  behalf  of  fmners,  was,  the  illuftration  of  God's 
declarative  glory.  He  undertook  the  vindication 
of  the  character  and  government  of  God,  from  the 
contempt  fin  had  calt  upon  them  ;  and  in  this  he 
fully  fucceeded,  and  appeals  to  his  father,  that  fo 
he  had  done — °  I  have  glorified  thee  en  the  earth  ; 
I  have  finifhed  the  work  which  thou  gaveth  me  to 
do."iJ  You  will  perceive,  then,  that  to  aim  at 
the  honour  of  God,  as  the  higheft  end  of  all  our 
actions,  is,  in  a  capital  inflance,  to  have,  the  "fame 
mind  in  us,  which  was  alio  in  Chrift  Jefus,  our 
Lord."§  The  true  fervant  of  Chrift  regards  the 
honour*  both  of  his  character  and  of  his  perfon.  By 
the  honour  of  Chrift's  character,  I  mean  his  honour 
as  mediator  ;  particularly  as  the  great  atonement 
for  fin,  and  as  our  intcrceffor  at  his  father's  right 
hand.  But  to  honour  Chrift  under  this  character, 
in  a  proper  manner,  is  not  only  to  profeis  our  firm 
faith  in  thef'c  doctrines,  but  to  accept  him  as  the 
Lord  our  righteoulnefs  ;  it  is  to  irutt  in  the  merit 
of  his 'atonement,  as  the  fole  ground  of  our  ac- 
ceptance in  the  light  of  God — Thus  the  good  and 
faithful  fervant  of  Chrift  puts  the  higheft  honour  in 
his  power  upon  him,  in  the  character  of  a  Saviour. 
He "praiticaliv  rifks  his  very  falvation  on  his  ability, 
fuitablenefs,  and  vrillingnefs  to  Fave  him*. 

*  John  xv,  8,    fi  Cer«x;  31.     j  John  xvii.  4.     §Phil.iL5. 


C     '3     1 

I  fhall  mention  but  one  ingredient  more  in  the 
character  I  am  at  prefent  illustrating,  and  that  is, 

5.  Faithfulnefs  in  the  difcharge  of  the  duties  of 
life.  The  character  under  which  our  tcxl  repre- 
ients  the  fervants  of  Chrift,  is  that  of  jlewards>  with 
whom  their  Lord  had  cntrufted  his  goods ;  to  fome 
he  gave  more,  and  to  others  lefs,  to  trade  withal. 
But  the  Apoftle  tells  us,  "  That  it  is  required  in 
itewards,  that  a  man-  be  found  faithful."*  And 
you  will  pleafe  to  obferve,  our  textexprefsly  Miles 
the  true  difciple  of  Chrift,  "  a  good  and  jaithful 
fervant." 

This  faithfulnefs  confifts,  principally,  in  a  con- 
fcientious  fincerity  and  diligence  in  rilling  up  the 
duties  of  our  feveral  ftations  and  characters  in 
life.  And  the  great  rule  by  which  we  are  to  aft, 
is  the  will  of  our  Lord  and  Mafter. 

Thus  much  for  the  character  of  the  good  and 
faithful  fervant. 

Let  us  now  proceed  to  enquire, 

II.  What  is  the  nature  of  that  reward  promifed 
in  our  text  to  all  fuch  good  and  faithful  fervants  ? 

And,  as  it  is  here  defcribed,  it  implies,  princi- 
pally, the  four  following  things : 

1.  The  acceptance  of  their  perfons  with  God. — 
This  is  implied  in  the  character  here  given  them, 
and  reprefented  in  the  parable,  as  given  them  by 
their  Lord,  when  he  calls  them  to  give  an  account 

C 

*  1  Cot,  h,  2, 


C  y  ] 

of  their  fteuardmip,  good  and  faithful  fervants. 
And  you  will  pleafe  farther  to  obferve,  they  are 
not  only  acknowledged  as  good  and  faithful,  but 
received  with  a  "  Well  done,  ye  good  and  faith- 
ful fervants. ''  This,  indeed,  chiefly  imports  an 
approbation  of  their  condutt  ;  but  it  is  no  lefs  ex- 
preffive  of  the  acceptance  of  their  perfons. 

But  to  eftimate  this  bleffing  in  a  proper  man- 
ner, it  is  neceflary  to  recolle-cl,  that  as  finners,  we 
had  forfeited  all  right  to  this  acceptance  with 
God.and  juftly  merited  his  fevere  difpleafure.  That 
-we  deferve  nothing  but  indignation  and  wrath,  tri- 
bulation and  anguifh,  from  him,  throughout  an 
immortality  of  woe.  Yea,  that  fuch  is  the  nature 
of  the  forfeiture  we  have  made  of  the  Divine  fa- 
vour ;  and  fuch  the  juftice  of  the  fentence  that 
binds  us  down  to  fuffer  his  difpleafure,  that,  it  ap- 
pears not  to  have  been  compatable  with  the  honor 
of  God,  to  reverfc  the  fentence,  and  reftore  the 
finner  to  favour,  without  an  adequate  fatisfattion. 
And  the  price  paid  for  this  blefling,  the  precious 
blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  greatly  contributes  to 
enhance  its  value.  But  how  rich  the  mercy,  for 
an  heir  of  Hell  to  become,  in  this  way,  "  an  heir 
of  God,  and  a  joint  heir  with  Chrift  Jefus  !" 

2.  It  implies  the  approbation  and  acceptance  of 
iheir  ferviccs  for  Gcd>  and  his  caufe  in  the  world. 
Every  individual  among  them  fhall  be  received 
with  a  ".  Well  done,*  thou  good  and  faithful  fer- 
vant,  thou  haft  been  faithful  over  a  few  things." 
Language  cannot  exprefs  the  approbation  of  the 
great  Judge  of  quick  and  dead,  in  ftronger  terms. 
But  did  our  time  admit  of  confidering  the  many 

*  The  original  word  En,  here  rendered  "  well  done,"  has  a  jorce 
that  tannot  lejully  expre[kd  in  eur  language. 


C     '5     ] 

imperfections  that  attend  the  very  beft  fervices 
performed,  by  the  holielt  of  our  Lord's  fervants, 
tor  him,  how  deeply  ftained  they  are  with  guilt,  it 
would  ferve,  not  a  little,  to  illuftrate  the.  riches  of 
that  reward  conferred  upon  them,  in  this  accep- 
tance of  their  fervices  for  him.  And  this  farther 
fuo-gefts,  what  it  is  of  importance  to  attend  to,  that 
this  acceptance  of  our  perfons  and  fervices,  when 
we  come  to  ftand  before  unblemifhed  purity,  is 
not  of  merit,  but  of  grace,  through  the  atonement 
and  intercefTion  of  the  Divine  Mediator.  "  It  is 
to  the  praife  of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  that  he 
makes  us  accepted  in  the  beloved."*  But  it  is 
never  the  lefs  certain,  for  its  being  of  grace. 

This  acceptance  of  our  perfons  and  fervices,  is 
of  itfelf  a  high  reward,  for  all  we  have  ever  done, 
or  can  do,  for  God,  while  in  this  life,  were  there 
none  other  ;  but  this  is  not  all — for, 

3.  This  reward  implies  actual  and  fuperadded 
honours,  conferred  upon  the  faithful  fervants  of 
Chrift,  in  the  great  day  of  God.  This  is  the  im- 
port of  "  Thou  haft  been  faithful  over  a  few  things, 
I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things."  What 
the  nature  of  thefe  honours  fhall  be,  we  are  not 
fo  clearly  taught.  Two  things,  however,  feem  to 
be  plain  refpecling  them,  in  the  facred  oracles,, 
namely,  That  they  fhall  bear  fome  proportion  to 
our  faithfulnefs  and  diligence  in  our  Lord's  fer- 
vice  here — and,  that  they  ihall  be  great. 

They  fhall  bear  fome  proportion  to  our  dili- 
gence and  faithfulnefs  in  our  Lord's  fervice  in  this 
life.  We  read,  "  There  is  one  glory  of  the  fun, 
and  another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  another  glory 

*  Ephe/ians  i.  6„ 


C    tf   ] 

of  the  ftars  ;  for  one  ftar  differeth  from  anoiher 
in  glory — So  alfo  is  the  refurreCtion  of  the  dead."* 
Thele  words  plainly  point  us  to  a  difference  in  the 
degrees  of  that  glory  which  (hail  be  conferred  on 
the  feveral  fervants  of  Chrift,  in  the  day  when  he 
fhall  finifli  the  mediatorial  fyftem,  by  railing  the 
dead,  and  judging  the  world  in  righteoufnefs. 
They  fhall  differ  as  the  fun  differs  from  the  moon, 
and  the  moon  from  the  ftars,  and  the  liars  one  from 
another.  But  the  ground  of  this  difference  will 
be,  the  zeal,  the  diligence,  and  the  faithfulnefs 
with  which  his  fervants  have  ferved  him  in  this 
life.  I  may  not  fay  their  fuccefs  will  have  no  in- 
fluence on  this  difference  of  reward  ;  for  we  read, 
si  That  they  who  turn  many  to  righteoufnefs,  fhall 
fhine  as  the  ftars,  forever  and  ever."J  But  when 
we  confider,  that  it  is  an  att  of  mere  fovereignty 
in  God,  whether  he  will  fucceed  the  faithful  la- 
bours of  his  fervants,  yea,  or  not,  it  is  not  fo  con- 
fonant  to  our  ideas  of  equity,  to  make  it  an  equal 
ground  of  diltinguifhed  honours,  with  thofe  things 
that  are  voluntary  in  us,  as  our  faithfulnefs  and 
diligence,  in  a  great  meafure,  are.  Befides,  this 
would  be  to  weaken,  if  not  to  deftroy,  the  en- 
couragement to  diligence  and  faithfulnefs,  arifing 
from  thofe  proiniles  of  reward  to  them,  fo  fre- 
quent in  the  oracles  of  truth  ;  efpecially  as  the 
moll:  diligent  and  faithful  fervants  of  Chnft,  are 
not  always  the  molt  fuccefsful.  And  it  farther 
deferves  our  notice,  that  the  reward  conferred,  in 
our  text,  on  the  good  fervant,  is  founded,  not  on 
his  fuccrf,  bat  on  his  faitk/ulnefs  :  "  Thou  halt 
been  faithful  over  a  few  thing;),  I  will  make  thee 
ruler  over  many  things." 

I  fhall  only  add,  under  this  particular,  that  the 
parable  of  the  ten  pounds,  eotriifted  bv  their  Lord 

*  i  Cirixv.^if  42.     +  D.anul  xii,  3. 


[     >7    ] 

to  the  ten  fervants,  which  you  have  in  the  nine- 
teenth chapter  of  the  Gofpel  by  Luke,  fufficientlv 
demonilrates,  that  the  rewards  that  fhall  be  con- 
ferred on  the  fervants  of  Chrift  at  laft,  will  not 
only  differ  in  their  degrees  of  honour,  but  that 
this  honour  fhall  bear  a  proportion  to  their  dili- 
gence and  faiihfulnefs  for  him  in  this  life.  They 
each  one  received  one  pound  a  piece,  as  you  may 
perceive  by  reading  the  parable.  Of  thefe,  one, 
by  his  diligence  and  faithful nefs,  had  gained  ten 
pounds,  and  he  is  made  ruler  over  ten  cities. — - 
Another,  by  his  diligence,  had  gained  five  pounds, 
and  he  is  made  ruler  over  five  cities. 

You  will  pleafe  to  obferve,  the  Aims  entrufted 
to  thefe  fervants  were  the  fame  ;  but  the  improve- 
ment is  reprefented  as  different,  and  that  the  dif- 
ference in  the  reward,  is  proportioned  to  the  dif- 
ference in  the  improvement. 

The  lov/eft  degree,  however,  of  this  reward 
fhall  be  very  great  to  thofe  who  receive  it.  This 
appears,  from  the  images  ufed  in  Scripture,  to  il- 
Iultrate  its  nature.  It  is  compared  to,  it  is  illuf- 
trarcd  by,  all  the  glories  of  royalty.  Hence  we 
read  of  "  a  crown  of  righteoufnefs,''*  and  of  "  a 
crown  of  glory ,  that  fadeth  not  away,"t  that  fhall 
be  conferred  upon  all  the  fincere  difciples  of  Chrift. 
Of  a  throne3and  their  fitting  upon  that  throne  ;  "To 
him  that  overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  fit  with  me 
on  my  throne,  even  as  I  alfo  over  ame,  and  ?m 
let  down  with  myFather  in  his  throne. "J  We  al- 
fo read  of  a  kingdom,  and  their  entering  on  the 
pofleflion'  of  that  kingdom  :  "  Come  ye  blcffed  of 
myFather,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world."!     Agreeably 

*  a  Tim,  v  .8,    f  i  Pd.  v.  44  Rev.  in.  21,  5  Matt.  xxv.  34, 


[    »«    ] 

to  this,  the  good  and  faithful  fervants  of  Chrift  are 
laid  to  be  made  kings  and  priejls  unto  God.*  But 
a  throne,  a  crown,  and  a  kingdom,  are  the 
fummit  of  earthly   grandeur,  the  utmoft  reach  of 

so  ' 

human  achievement.  And  yet  thefe,  all  thefe, 
fall  infinitely  fhort  of  the  bleflednefs  and  honours, 
in  fure  referve  for  thofe  whofe  character  I  have 
defcribed  :  for  it  is  written,  "  Eye  hath  not  feen, 
nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart, 
of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared  for 
them  that  love  him."f 

4.  The  reward  in  our  text  includes  the  mojl  con- 
fummate  happinefs>in  the  immediate  prefence  and  frui- 
tion of  a  God  in  Chrift.  This  is  imported  in  that 
phrafe,"£nter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord. "Thefe 
are,  literally,  "  Joysunfpeakable,and  full  of  glory." 
They  include  all  that  happinefs  that  is  derived  to  the 
fpirits  of  juftmen  made  perfect,  from  the  cleareft 
knowledge  of  a  God  in  Chrift  ;  from  the  molt 
perfect  conformity  to  him,  and  the  fulleft  enjoy- 
ment of  him.  By  the  clearejl  knowledge  of  a 
God  in  Chrift,  I  do  not  mean  a  ptrftB,  knowledge 
of  him  ;  for  "  Who,  by  fearching,  can  find  out 
God,  or  know  the  Almighty  to  perfection  V\  But 
I  meafi  the  fulleft  knowledge  of  him,  that  the  then 
enlarged,  and  daily  enlarging,  Capacity  can  pofli- 
bly  receive  3  and  which,  when  compared  with  our 
prefent  knowledge,  will  be  in  afenfe  perfett.  The 
clearnefs,  precifion,  extent,  and  latisfactory  nature 
of  this  knowledge,  are  ex^reiTed,  in  Scripture,  by 
••'  feeing  no  more  darkly  through  a  glafs,  but  face 
to  face;  and  knowing,even  as  alio  we  are  known. "^ 
And  by  the  ftrong  expreffive  phrafe  of  "  feeing 
God's  face."5 

*4  Rev.  ?'.       |  1  Ccr,  [ii.  9.     $  Job  xi.  7.     §  I  Con  xiii.  12, 
'i.iltv..  xxii6  . 


C     '9    ] 

This   knowledge  of  God,  efpecially  as  fliining 
in  the  face  of  Chrift,  is  one  principal  fource  of 
that   confumnaate  happinefs,  enjoyed  by  glorified 
fpirits.     They  know  him  as   their  God  and  porti- 
on, and  as  fuch  their  delightful  experience  recog- 
nizes and  realizes  him.     That  is  an  inftru&ive  and 
emphatical  phrafe,  as  it  lies   in  the  original,  Rev. 
xxi.  3,  laft  claufe — which,  literally  rendered,  runs 
thus,  "  And  God  himfelf  ihall  be  with  them,  their 
God  ;"  that  is,exhibiting  and  manifefting  himfelf  to 
them,  as  their  God,  in  all  the  ways  that  their  fouls, 
now  arrived  at  the  maturity  of  their  exiftence,  both 
in  a  natural  and  moral  view,  can  poflibly  admit. 
Every  power  of  the  matured  mind  mall   be   an 
avenue,  through  which   bleffednefs  lhall  flow  into 
it,  from  God,  the  fountain  of  bleffednefs,  through- 
out an  unwafting  immortality. 

I  may  not,  I  dare  not  undertake  to  defcribe 
the  nature  of  this  happinefs.  I  (hall  only  obferve 
refpeQing  it,  that  our  text  ftiles  it  "  the  joy  of  our 
Lord" — \*  Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord"— 
This,  no  doubt,  means,  the  joy  of  our  Lord  Chrift. 

It  is  the  joy  of  our  Lord,  becaufe  it  has  been  pur- 
chafed  by  him.  This  reflefts  a  peculiar  glory  upon 
it,  in  the  eftimation  of  the  fpirits  of  juft  men  made 
perfect ;  it  mfufes  a  divine  and  exquifite  relifh  in- 
to it— to  this  accords  their  fong  to  him,  "  Thou 
art  worthy  to  take  the  book,  and  to  open  the  feali 
thereof ;  for  thou  waft  flain,  and  haft  redeemed  us 
to  God  by  thy  blood,  out  of  every  kindred,  and 
tongue,  and  people,  and  nation."* 

Again--It  is  the  joy  of  our  Lord,  becaufe  Chr ill % 
our  Lord,  has  taken  pofejion  of  it  m  the  name  of 

*  Ra>.  v.  a. 


[    to    ] 

his  people — Some  of  his  laft  words  to  his  difcip'',  s 
were,  "  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.'Jt  He 
rofe  from  the  dead,  and  afcended  to  glory,  not  in 
the  character  of  a  private  perfon,  but  as  the  cove- 
nant head  and  representative  of  his  people — This 
is  the  character  in  which  "  he  has  entered  into 
Heaven,  as  the  forerunner  for  us. "J 

It  is  alfo  the  joy  of  our  Lord,  becaufe  it  is  de- 
rived from  God,  to  the  happy  [ubjefts  thereof,  through 
Jefus  Chrijl,  as  the  bond  of  their  union  with  him, 
and  the  medium  of  their  inter  courfe  with  him — And 
this  will  continue  to  be  the  cafe  throughout  a 
bleffed  immortality. 

And,  laftly,  It  is  the  joy  of  our  Lord,  becaufe 
it  is  a  joy  of  the  fame  kind  with  that  which  the  glo- 
rified human  nature  of  our  Lord  himfelf  fnares  ;  fo 
far  as  they  fhall  be  capable  of  it — What  lefs  than 
this  car.  be  the  import  of  that  ftrong  phrafe,  "  Heirs 
of  God,  and  joint  heirs  with  Chrift."§  Nor  is 
this  all,  They  fhall  enjoy  it  in  the  fame  manfions 
of  bleffednefs,  which  he  himfelf  inhabits.  This  is 
his  promife  to  them,  "  I  will  come  again,  and  re- 
ceive you  unto  myfelf,  that  where  I  am,  there  ye 
may  be  alfo."^  And  his  availing  prayer  for  them 
is,  "  Father,  I  will,  that  they  alfo  whom  thou  haft 
given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am,  that  they  may 
behold  my  glory  which  thou  haft  given  me."^§ 
Agreeably  to  which,  we  read,  "  They  fhall  ever 
be  with  the  Lord."! 

And  now  from  all  this,  you  will  nothefitate  to 
conclude,  that  this  joy  muft  be  a  compleat  and  an 
everlafting  joy.     And,  what  can  it  be  more  ? 

\  Jvhnxiv.  %.     XHeb.vhao.     §  Rom.viii.  17,  ^Jvknxiv.$, 
$§§    /til  -  xi  .•:.  24..   jl  Theff%  iv.  17. 


[    2i    y 

My  brethren,  you   will  eafily  perceive  this  fu.b-. 
jeel  teaches  us,  the  nature  of  the  religion  of  jefus 
Chrift.     It  forms   its   happy  fubjects  to  a  proper 
temper   and   a  proper  conducl  towards  God  and 
their  neighbours.      It  makes  them  good  and  faith- 
ful fervants  to  their  Matter,  who  is  in  Heaven.    It 
teaches  them  their  duty,  and  inclines  and  enables 
them  to   comply  with   it.     Its  dofrrines    and  pre- 
cepts, its  promifes  and  threatenings,   are  powerful 
principles  of  a&ion.     Thus  it  is  that  divine  truth 
fanctihes  the  human  heart,  agreeably  to  our  Lord's 
prayer,    "  San&ify   them   through   the  truth  ;  thy 
word  is  truth."* 

You  will  farther  obferve,  this  religion  not  only 
teaches  us  our  duty,  and  forms  us  to  it,  but  re- 
wards us,  in  the  molt  glorious  manner,  for  this  our 
very  duty — Rewards  us  with  an  immortality  of 
bleffednefs,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  Father  of 
our  Spirits.  How  grand,  interefting,  and  digni- 
fied the  fcenes  it  opens  beyond  the  grave  ! 

Do  any  of  thofe  fyftems  of  morality,  which  the 
fons  of  infidelity  wifti  to  eftablifh,  independent  of 
the  facred  Scriptures,  furnifh  fuch  motives  to 
virtue  ?  Motives  fo  rational  and  fo  calculated  to 
influence  ?  It  is  revelation  alone  that  pufhes  its 
incentives  beyond  the  grave  ;  that  pufhes  them 
home  to  the  inmoft  feelings  of  the  human  heart  ; 
that  embraces  every  fpringof  aftion,  even  the  molt 
fecret;  and  touches  them  in  the  moft  tender,  juft, 
and  energetic  manner. 

Again — This  fubjeel  fuggefls  matter  of  great  en- 
couragement to  the  people  of  God,  and  efpecially 
to  the  minifters  of  Chrift,to  be  faithful  and  diligent 

D 

*  Jvhn  xvii,  1 7. 


[  n  i 

in  the  work  afligned  them  in  life.  Our  Lord 
marks,  with  an  omnifcient  eye,  all  our  conduci 
towards  him  ;  and  while  he  reprehends  our  floth 
and  unfaithful nefs,  he  encourages  and  rewards  our 
tneaneft  fervices  for  him.  "  A  cup  of  cold  water 
given  to  a  difciple,  in  the  name  of  a  difciple,"  he 
affures  us,  "  fiiall  in  no  wife  lofe  its  reward."* 
Let  us,  then,  (hake  off  our  (loth  ;  let  us  up  and 
be  doing  :  Our  work  is  great  ;  our  time  is  fhort, 
and  our  reward  glorious.  Nor  is  there  a  (ingle 
Chriftian,  however  private  his  ftation,  or  obfcure 
his  character,  but  what  may,  fome  how  or  other, 
ferve  the  interefts  of  his  Lord  in  the  world.  This 
he  may  do  by  a  confcientious  difcharge  of  the  du- 
ties of  the  devout,  but  efpecially  of  the  duties  of 
the  focial  life.  This  will  exhibit  religion  in  a  jult 
point  of  light  to  the  furrounding  world,  and  glorify 
our  Father,  who  is  in  Heaven. 

They  may  alfo  be  ufeful  in  and  by  the  duty  of 
prayer  ;  fecret  and  family  prayer.  Our  God  is  a 
God  who  hears  prayer  ;  and  he,  no  doubt,  (beds 
many  ablefllng  on  his  minifters,  on  his  church,  on 
the  commonwealth,  and  on  the  world,  in  anfwerto 
the  prayers  of  his  humble,  though  obfcure,  friends. 
"  Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  feeing  God  is 
not  unrighteous  to  forget  your  work  and  labour  of 
love" — "  Let  us  be  liedfaft,  immoveable,  always 
abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forafmuch  as 
we  know  our  labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 

But  it  is  time  I  fnould  haften  to  obferve,  that 
this  fubjeft  (tronglv  applies  to  the  occafion  of  my 
addrefling  you  this  day — The  death  of  that  ve- 
nerable man  of  God,  \vho  prefided,  with  fo  much 
dignity,  over  this  iniiitution  for  twenty-fix  years. 

•  Matt,  x.  42. 


[    *3    3 

This  great  man  was  defcended  from  a  refpe&a- 
ble  parentage  ;  which  had  long  poffeffed  a  confi- 
derable  landed  property  in   the  eaft  of  Scotland. 
His  father  was  minifter  of  the  parifli  of  Yefter,  a 
few  miles  from  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  born  on 
the  fifth  day  of  February,   1724.*     This  worthy 
man  was  eminent  for  his  piety,  his  literature,  and 
for  a  habit  of  extreme  accuracy,  in  all  his  writings 
and  diicourfcs.     This  example  contributed  not  a 
little  to  form  in  his  fon  that  tafte  and  that  love  of 
accuracy,  united  with  a  noble  fimplicity,  for  which 
he  was  lb  diftinguiihed  through  his  whole  life.    He 
was  fent,  very  young,  to  the  public  fchool  at  Had- 
dington :  His  father  fpared  neither  expence  nor 
pains  in  his  education.     There   he  foon  acquired 
reputation  for  his  affiduity  in  his  ftudies,  and  for  a 
native  foundnefs  of  judgment,  and  clearnefs  and 
quicknefs  of  conception,  among  his  fchool-fellows : 
many  of  whom  have  fince  filled  the  higheft  (tations 
in  the  literary  and  political  world. 

*  Dr.  Withtrfpoon  was  lineally  defcended  from  that  eminent  man 
pfGtd,  ike  Rev.  Mr.  John  Knox,  whom  Dr.  Robtrtfon  fliles,  "  The 
prime  inflrument  of  jpreading  and  efiablijliing  thl  reformed  religion 
inScotland.''  The  genius,  learning,  piety,  zeal,and  intrepidity  of  this 
great  man,rendered  himfngularly  qualified  for  the  diflinguifhedpart  he 
bore  in  that  inter efling  event.  It  is  recorded  of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots, 
that  fhe  faidt  "  She  was  more  afraid  of  John  Knox's  prayers,  than 
of  an  army  of  ten  thoufand  men."  Worn  out  by  inceffant  labours, 
he  died  on  the  27th  day  of  November,  1572,  in  the  67th  year  of  his 
age.  Ihe  Earl  of  Morton,  then  Regent  of  Scotland,  who  attended 
his  funeral,  pronounced  his  eulogium  in  a  few  coords  ;  the  more  ho- 
nourable for  Mr.  Knoxy  fays  the  above  hiftorian,  as  they  came  Jrom 
one  whom  he.  had  often  cenfured,  with  peculiar  feverity,  "  Here  lies 
he  who  never  J eared  the  face  of  man."  Mr.  Knox's  daughter  Eliza- 
beth married  the  famous  Mr.  John  Weljh,  who  flrongly  refembkd  his 
father-in-law  in  genius,  character,  and  vfefulnefs  in  the  church  : 
And  in  this  line  Dr,  Wuherfpoon  defcended  from  this  honourable  an' 
ceflry. 


L     *4    ] 

At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  was  removed  to  the 
univerfity  of  Edinburgh.  Here  he  continued,  at- 
tending the  different  profefTors,  with  a  high  degree 
of  credit,  in  all  the  branches  of  learning,  until  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  when  he  was  licenfed  to  preach 
the  Gofpel.  In  the  theological  hall,  particularly, 
he  was  remarked  for  a  molt  judicious  tafte  in  fa- 
cred  criticifm,  and  for  a  precision  of  idea  and  perf- 
picuity  of  expreffion  rarely  attained  at  that  early 
period. 

Immediately  on  his  leaving  the  univerfity,  he 
was  invited  to  be  affiftant  minifter  with  his  father, 
with  the  right  of  fucceffion  to  the  charge.  But  he 
chofe  rather  to  accept  an  invitation  from  the  parifh 
of  Beith,  in  the  welt  of  Scotland.  Here  he  was 
ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry,  and 
fettled  with  the  univerfal  acquiefcence,  and  even 
with  the  fervent  attachment  of  the  people  :  A  cir- 
cumftance  which,  under  the  patronage  that  un- 
happily exifts  in  that  church,  is  but  too  rarely  the 
cafe  in  the  fettlement  of  their  clergy.  His  cha- 
racter as  a  preacher,  which  rendered  him  fo  ac- 
ceptable and  popular,  will  come  more  naturally 
before  us  in  another  place.  Let  it  fuffice  to  re- 
mark here,  that,  always  interefting  and  inltruclive 
in  the  pulpit,  he  was  afliduous  in  the  difcharge  of 
every  parochial  duty  when  out  of  it.  And  his 
preaching  generally  turned  on  thofe  great,  diftin- 
guifhing,  and  practical  truths  of  the  gofpel,  which, 
in  every  Chriftian  country,  mod  affett  and  attach 
the  hearts  of  the  great  body  of  the  people. 

From  Beith  he  was,  after  a  few  years,  tranflated 
to  the  large  and  flourishing  town  of  Paifly,  fo  ce- 
lebrated  for  its  various  and  fine  manufactures. 

Here    he  refided   in   the  height  of  reputation  and 
ufefulnefs ;  and  riveted  in  the  affections  of  his  peo- 


I     25    ] 

pie,  and  his  fellow-citizens,  when  he  was  called 
to  the  prefidency  of  this  college. 

During  his  refidence  at  Paifly,  he  was  invited  to 
Dublin,  in  Ireland,  to  affume  'the  charge  of  a  nu- 
merous and  refpedable  congregation  in   that  city. 
He  was  alfo  called  to  Rotterdam,  in  the  Republic 
of  the  United  Provinces— and  to  the  town  of  Dun- 
dee, in  his  own  country.     But  he  could  not  be  in- 
duced to  quit  a  fphere  of  fuch  refpeaability,  com- 
fort, and  ufefulnefs.     He  rejeded  alfo,  in  the  firft 
inftance,  the  invitation  of  the  truftees  of  this  col- 
lege.    He  thought  it  almoft  impofliblc  for  him  to 
break  connexions  at  home,  that  had  been  fo  long 
endeared   to  him— to  violate  all   the  attachments 
and  habits  of  the  female  part  of  his  family— to  leave 
the  fcene  of  his  happinefs  and  honour— and,  in  his 
middle  career,  to  bury  himfelf,  as  he  apprehend- 
ed, in  a  new  and  diiiant  country. 

But  warmly  urged  by  all  thofe  friends   whofe 
judgment  he  moft  refpeaed,  and  whofe  friendfhip 
he  moft  efteemed— and  hoping  that  he  might  repay 
his  facrifkes,  by  greater  ufefulnefs  to  the  caufe  of 
the  Redeemer,  and  to  the  interefts  of  learning,  in 
this  new  world— and  knowing  that  this  inftitution 
had  beenconfecrated,  from  its  foundation,  to  thofe 
great  objeBs  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  life,  he 
finally  confented,  on  a  fecond  application,  to  wave 
every  other  confederation,  to  crofs  the  ocean,  and 
to  take  among  us  that  important  charge  to  which 
he  had   been  called,  with  the   concurrent   wifhes, 
and  the  higheft  expeaations,  of  all  the  friends  of 
the  college.*     Their  expeaations  have  not   been 

*  Dr  Witherfpoon  arrived  with  his  family  at  Princeton  in  the 
month  of  Augujt,  ,  768.  Be  uas  fat  ftxth  Prcfident  of  the  Colltit 
fince  Us  foundation  in  theyear  1746.  His  predeceffors  u^theRL 
Metfrs.  Jonathan  Dickcnbn,  Aaron  Burr,  Jonathan  Edwards, 


I    *    ] 

difappointed.  Its  reputation  and  fuccefs,  under 
his  adminiftration,  have  been  equal  to  our  mod 
fanguine  hopes. 

Almoft  the  firft  benefit  which  it  received, befides 
the  eclat,  and  the  aecefhon  of  ftudents,  procured 
to  it  by  the  fame  of  his  literary  character,  was  the 
augmentation  of  its  funds.  The  college  has  never 
enjoyed  any  refources  from  the  ftate.  It  was 
founded,  and  has  been  fupported,  wholly  by  pri- 
vate liberality  and  zeal.  And  its  finances,  from 
a  variety  of  caufes,  were  in  a  low  and  declining 
condition,  at  the  period  when  Dr.  Witherfpoon 
arrived  in  America.  But  his  reputation  excited 
an  uncommon  liberality  in  the  public  ;  and  his 
perfonal  exertions,  extended  from  Maffachufetts 
to  Virginia,  foon  railed  its  funds  to  a  flourifhing 
ftate.  The  war  of  the  revolution,  indeed,  after- 
wards, proftrated  every  thing,  and  almoft  annihi- 
lated its  refources  ;  yet  we  cannot  but  with  grati- 
tude recollect,  how  much  the  inftitution  owed,  at 
that  time,  to  his  enterprizs  and  his  talents. 

But  the  principal  advantages  it  derived,  were 
from  his  literature  ;  his  fuperintendancy  ;  his  ex- 
ample as  a  happy  model  of  good  writing  ;  and  from 
the  tone  and  tafte  which  he  gave  to  the  literary 
purfuits  of  the  college. 

In  giving  the  outlines  of  the  character  of  this 
great  man,  for  I   attempt   no   more,  I  fha.ll  begin 

Samuel  Davies,  and  Dr.  Samuel  Finley — Men  defervedly  celebrat- 
ed for  genius,  learning,  and  piety.  Mr.Diclanfon  and  Mr.  Edwards 
were  advanced  in  lift  token  choftn  to  the  pufidcncy. 

Net  long  before  Dr.  Witherfpoon  left  Scotland,  and  while  in  fuf 
pence  refpecl'uig  his  duty,  a  gentleman,  jjtqjfetfed  of  a  conjiderablt 
property,  an  old  bachelor,  and  a  relation  oj  the  family,  promifed  t9 
make  him  his  heir,  if  he  would  not  go  to  America. 


[    V    I 

with  obferving,  that  perhaps  his  principal  merit 
appeared   in   the  pulpit.     He   was,  in  many  ref- 
pe&s,  one  of  the  beft  models  on   which  a  young 
preacher   could  form  himfelf.     It  was  a  lingular 
felicity  to  the    whole  college,    but  efpeciaily  to 
thofe  who  had  the  profeflion  of  the  miniftry   in 
view,  to  have  fuch  an  example   conftantly  before 
them.     Religion,  by  the  manner   in  which   it  was 
treated  by  him,  always  commanded  the  refpecl  of 
thofe  who  heard  him,  even  when  it   was  not  able 
to  engage  their  hearts.     An  admirable  textuary,  a 
profound  theologian,  perfpicuous  and  fimple  in  his 
manner  ;  an   univerfal  fcholar,  acquainted  deeply 
with  human  nature;  a  grave,  dignified,  and  folemn 
fpeaker,    he  brought  all   the  advantages  derived 
from  thefe  fources  to  the  illuftration   and  enforce- 
ment of  divine  truth.     Though  not  a  fervent  and 
animated  orator,*  he  was  always  a  folemn,  affeft- 
ing,  and  inftruaive   preacher.     It   was  impoffible 
to  hear  him  without  attention,  or  to  attend  to  him 
without  improvement.     He  had  a  happy  talent  at 
unfolding  the  ftria  and  proper  meaning  of  the  fa- 
cred  writer,  in  any   text  from  which  he  chofe  to 
difcourfe  ;    at  concentrating    and   giving  perfeH 
unity  to  every  fubjed  which  he  treated  ;  and  pre- 

*  A  peculiar  affeBion  of  his  nerves,  which  always  overcame  him 
when  he.  auowed  himfelf  to  Jed  very  fervently  on  any  fubjecl,  obliged 
him,  from  his  earlujl  entrance  on  public  life,  to  impoje  a  flriR  rel- 
traint  and  guard  upon  his  fenfibiltty.  He  was,  therefore,  under  th? 
neceMty  of  fubfntuling  gravity  and  ferioufnefs  of  manner,  in  public 
jpeahtng,  in  the  room  $f  that  fire  and  warmth,  of  which  he  was 
well  capable,  by  nature;  and  which  he  fo  much  admired  in  others, 
when  managed  with  prudence. 

He  never  read  his  fermons,  or  vftd  fo  much  as  Jkort  notes,  in  the 
pulpit.  His  prance  was,  to  write  his  fnnons  at  full  length,  and 
commit  them  to  memory  ;  but  not  confine  himfelf  to  the  precife  words 
nehad  penned-  He  often  took  great  liberties,  in  the  delivery  of  his 
difcourfts,  to  alter  add  to,  or  abridge  what  he  had  written;  but 
this  never  infringed  upon  the  pitted  accuracy. 


r  28  ] 

fenting  to  the  hearer  the  moft  clear  and  compre- 
henfive  views  of  it.  His  fermons  were  diftinguifhed 
for  their  judicious  and  perfpicuous  divifions — .for 
mingling  profound  remarks  on  human  life,  along 
with  the  illuftration  of  divine  truth — and  for  the 
lucid  order  that  reigned  through  the  whole.  In 
his  difcourfes,  he  loved  to  dwell  chiefly  on  the 
great  doclrines  of  divine  grace,  and  on  the  diftin- 
guifhing  truths  of  the  gofpel.  Thefe  he  brought, 
as  far  as  poffible,  to  the  level  of  every  under- 
standing, and  the  feeling  of  every  heart.  He  fel- 
dom  chofe  to  lead  his  hearers  into  fpeculative  dif- 
cuflions,  and  never  to  entertain  them  by  a  mere 
difplay  of  talents.  All  oftentation  in  the  pulpit, 
he  viewed  with  the  utmoft  averfion  and  contempt. 
During  the  whole  of  his  prefidency,  he  was  ex- 
tremely folicitous  to  train  thofe  ftudious  youths, 
who  had  the  miniftry  of  the  gofpel  in  view,  in  fuch 
a  manner,  as  to  i'ecure  the  greateft  refpeftability, 
as  well  as  ufefulnefs,  in  that  holy  profeflion.  It 
was  his  conftant  advice  to  young  preachers,  never 
to  enter  the  pulpit  without  the  moft  careful  pre- 
paration. It  was  his  ambition  and  his  hope,  to 
render  the  facred  miniftry  the  moft  learned,  as  well 
as  the  moft  pious  and  exemplary  body  of  men  in 
the  Republic. 

As  a  writer,  his  ftile  is  fimple  and  comprehen- 
sive— his  remarks  judicious,  and  often  refined — 
his  information,  on  every  fubjefct  which  he 
treats,  accurate  and  extenfive — his  matter  always 
weighty  and  important — clofely  condenfed,  and  yet 
well  arranged  and  clear.  Simplicity,  perfpicuity, 
precifion,  comprehenfion  of  thought,  and  know- 
ledge of  the  world,  and  of  the  human  heart,  reign 
in  every  part  of  his  writings.  Three  volumes  of 
effays,  and  two  volumes  of  fermons,  bef;des  feveral 
detached  difcourfes,  already  publifhed — and  treat- 


[     29     ] 

ifig  chiefly  on  the  mod  important  and  praBical 
fubjects  in  religion — hive  defervedly  extended  his 
reputation,  not  only  through  Britain,  Ireland,  and 
America,  but  through  molt  of  the  proteftant  coun- 
tries of  Europe.  His  remarks  on  the  nature  and 
effects  of  the  ftage,  enter  deeply  into  the  human 
heart.  We  find  there  many  refined  obfervations, 
after  the  example  of  the  Meffieurs  de  Port-Royal 
in  France,  not  obvious  to  ordinary  minds,  but 
perfectly  founded  in  the  hiftory  of  man,  and  the 
itate  of  fociety.  The  pernicious  influence  of  that 
amufement  on  the  public  tafte  and  morals,  was,  per- 
haps, never  more  clearly  elucidated.  On  the  follow- 
ing interefting  fubje6ts,  the  nature  and  necejfity  of  re- 
generation—  J.ujiijication  by  free  gracey  through  J  ejus 
Chrijl;  and  the  importance  of  truth  in  religion,  or,  the 
connexion  that  fubfijls  between  found  principles  and  a> 
holy  practice,  there  is,  perhaps,  nothing  fuperior  ia 
the  Englilh  language.  But  Dr.  Witherfpoon's  ta- 
lents were  various.  He  was  not  only  a  ferious 
writer,  but  he  poffefTed  a  fund  of  refined  humour, 
and  delicate  fatire.  A  happy  fpecimen  of  this  is 
Teen  in  his  Ecclefajlical  Charatlerijtics.  The  edge 
of  his  wit,  in  that.performance,  was  directed  again!! 
certain  corruptions  in  principle  and  praQice  pre- 
valent in  the  church  of  Scotland.  And  no  attack 
that  was  ever  made  upon  them,  gave  them  fo  deep 
a  wound,  or  was  lb  feverely  felt.  Dr.Warburton, 
the  celebrated  Bifhop  of  Gloucefter,  mentions  the 
Characteriuics  with  particular  approbation,  and 
exprefies  his  wifh,  diat  the  Englifh  church,  as  Ihe 
needed  too,  had  likewife  fueh  a  corrector. 

This  may  be  the  proper  place  to  mention  his 
general  character,  as  a  member  of  the  councils  and 
courts  of  the  church,  and  the  part  particularly  that 
he  took   in  the  ecclefiaftical  politics  of  bis  native 

E 


[     3°    ] 

country.  The  church  of  Scotland  was  divided  in- 
to two  parties,  with  refpeQ:  to  their  ideas  of  eccle- 
fiaftical  discipline.  The  one  was  willing  to  con- 
firm, and  even  extend  the  rights  of  patronage — the 
other  wifhed,  if  poffible,  to  abrogate,  or  at  lead 
limit  them,  and  to  extend  the  rights  and  influence 
of  the  people,  in  the  fetilement  and  removal  nf 
rainifters.  The  latter  were  zealous  for  the  doc- 
trines of  grace,  and  the  articles  of  religion,  in  all 
their  ftrictnefs,  as  contained  in  their  national  con- 
feflion  of  faith.  The  former  were  willing  to  allow 
a  greater  latitude  of  opinion  ;  and  they  preached 
in  a  ftile  that  feemed  to  the  people  lefs  evangelical, 
and  lefs  affefting  to  the  heart  and  confcience,  than 
that  of  their  opponents.  In  their  concern,  like- 
wife,  to  exempt  the  clergy  of  their  party  from  the 
unreafonable  effecls  of  popular  caprice,  they  too 
frequently  protected  rhem  againft  the  juft  com- 
plaints of  the  people.  Thefe  were  Ailed  moderate 
men,  while  their  antagonists  were  diftinguifhed  by 
the  name  of  the  orthodox.  Dr.  Witherfpoon,  in 
his  church  politics,  early  and  warmly  embraced 
the  fide  of  the  orthodox.  This  he  did  from  con- 
viction, and  a  fenfe  of  duty  ;  and,  by  degrees, 
acquired  fuch  an  influence  in  their  councils,  that 
he  was  confidered  at  length  as  their  head  and  lead- 
er. Before  he  had  acquired  this  influence,  their 
councils  were  managed  without  union  and  addrefs, 
white  the  meafures  of  the  moderate  party  had,  for 
a^long  time,  been  conducted  by  fome  of  the  greateft 
literary  characters  in  the  nation.  It  had  happened 
among  the  orthodox,  as  it  otten  does  among  fcru- 
pulous  and  confcientious  men,  who  are  not  verfed 
in  the  affairs  of  the  world,  that  each  purfued  inflex- 
ibly his  own  opinion,  as  the  diflate  of  an  honcft 
confcience.  He  could  not  be  induced  to  make  any 
modification  of  it,  in  order  to  accommodate  it  to 
the  views  of  others.     He   thought  that  all  addrefs 


[    3'     1 

and  policy,  was  ufing  too  much  management  with 
confcience.  Hence  refulted  difunion  of  mea- 
fures,  and  confequent  defeat — But  Dr^  Wither- 
fpoon's  enlarged  mind  did  not  refufe  to  combine 
the  wifdom  of  the  ferpent  with  the  harmlejfnefs  of  the 
dove.  He  had,  probably,  the  principal  merit  of 
creating  among  them  union,  and  harmony  of  de- 
sign ;  of  concentrating  their  views,  and  giving 
fyflem  to  their  operations.  One  day,  after  carry- 
ing fome  important  questions  in  the  general  affem- 
bly,  againft  the  celebrated  Dr.  Robertfon,  who 
was  at  that  time  confidered  as  the  leader  of  the  op-, 
polite  party,  the  latter  faid  to  him,  in  a  pleafant 
and  eafy  manner,  "  I  think  you  have  your  men 
better  difciplined  than  formerly."  "Yes  (repliedDr. 
Witherfpoon)  by  urging  your  politics  too  far,  you 
have  compelled  us  to  beat  you  with  your  own  wea- 
pons." 

We  have  feen  him  in  our  own  chur.ch  judicato- 
ries, in  America,  always  upright  in  his  views — re- 
markable for  his  punctuality  in  attending  upon 
them — and  able  to  feize,  at  once,  the  right  point, 
of  view  on  every  queftion — able  to  difentangle  the 
moft  embaralTed  fubje&s — clear  and  conclufive  in 
his  reafonings — and  from  habit  in  bufinefs,  as  well 
as  from  a  peculiar  foundnefs  of  judgment,  always 
conducting  every  difcuffion  to  the  moft  fpeedy  and 
decifive  termination.  The  church  has  certainly 
loft  in  him,  one  of  her  greateft  lights  ;  and,  if  I 
may  ufe  the  term  in  eccleiiaitical  affairs,  one  of  her 
greateft  politicians. 

Before  entering  on  his  talents  as  a  prefident,  fuf- 
for  me,  in  a  lenience  or  two,  to  call  to  your  mind 
his  focial  qualities.  When  not  engaged  in  the  great 
and  ferrous  bufinelTes  of  life,  he  was  one  of  the  moll 
companionable  of  men.   I'urnilhed  with  a  rich  fund 


C   32    ] 

of  anecdote,  both  amufing  and  mftru&ive  ;  his  mo- 
ments of  relaxation  were  as  entertaining,  as  his  fe- 
rious  ones  were  fraught  with  improvement.  One 
quality  remarkable,  and  highly  deferving  imitation 
in  him  was,  his  attention  to  young  perfons.  Me  never 
fuffered  an  opportunity  to  efcape  him  of  imparting 
the  raoft  uicful  advice  to  them,  according  to  their 
ctrcumftances,  when  they  happened  to  be  in  his 
company.  And  this  was  always  done  in  fo  agreeable 
a  way,  that  they  could  neither  be  inattentive  to  it, 
nor  was  it  poffible  to  fcrgct  it. 

On  his  domeftic  virtues  I  (hall  only  fay,  he  was  an 
affeaionate  hufband,  a  tender  parent,  and  a  kind  maf- 
ter  ;  to  which  I  may  add,  he  was  a  fincere  and  a 
warm  friend.— But,  I  haften  to  confider  him  as  a 
febolar,  and  a  direQor  of  the  fyftem  of  education 
in  the  college. 

An  tiniyerfal  fcholar  himfelf,  he  endeavoured  to 
eftablifh  ihe  fyftem  of  education  in  this  inftitution, 
upon  the  moft  extenfive  and  refpectable  balis,  that 
its  fituation  and  its  finances  would  admit.  'For- 
merly, the  courfe  of  inftruaion  had  been  too  fu- 
perfkial ;  and  its  metaphyfics  and  philofophy  were 
too  much  tinaured  with  the  dry  and  uninftruaive 
forms  of  the  fchools.  This,  however,  was  by  no 
means  to  be  imputed  as  a  defe6>,  to  {hole  great 
and  excellent  men,  who  had  prefided  over  the  in- 
ftitution before  him  ;  but  rather  to  the  recent  ori- 
gin of  the  country—the  imperfe&ion  of  its  fiate  of 
iociety— and  to  the  ftate  of  literature  in  it.  Since 
Ins  prefidency  mathematical  fcience  has  received 
ab  extenfion,  that  was  not  known  before  in  the 
American  feminaries.  He  introduced  into  philo- 
iophy,  all  the  moft  liberal  and  modem  improve- 
ments of  Europe.  lie  extended  the  philofophlcai 
fcourfc  to  ci^race  the  general  principles  of  policy 


C     33     ] 

and  public  law  ;  he  incorporated  with  it  a  found 
and  rational  metaphyfics — equally  remote  from  the 
doctrines  of  fatality  and  contingency — from  the 
barrennefs  and  dogmatifm  of  the  fchools — and 
from  the  exceffive  refinements  of  thofe  contradic- 
tor, but  equally  impious  fe8s  of  fcepticifm,  who 
wholly  denv  the  exigence  of  matter,  or  maintain 
that  nothing  but  matter  exifts  in  the  univerfe. 

He  laid  the  foundation  of  a  courfe  of  hiftory  in 
the  college — and  the  principles  of  taite,  and  the 
rules  of  good  writing,  were  both  happily  explained 
by  him,  and  exemplified  in  his  manner.  The  Jlile 
of  learning,  if  you  will  allow  me  the  phrafe,  has 
been  changed  by  him.  Literary  inquiries  and  im- 
provements have  become  more  liberal,  more  ex- 
tenfive,  and  more  profound.  An  admirable  faculty 
for  governing,  and  of  exciting  the  emulation  of 
the  voung  gentlemen  under  his  care,  contributed 
to  give  fuccefs  to  all  his  defigns,  for  perfecting  the 
courfe  of  inftruciion.  The  numbers  of  men  of 
ciillinguimed  talents,  in  the  different  liberal  pro- 
feffions,  in  this  country,  who  have  received  the 
elements  of  their  education  under  him,  teftify  his 
fervices  to  the  college.  Under  his  aufpices  have 
been  formed  a  large  proportion  of  the  clergy  of 
our  church  ;  and  to  his  inftru&ions,  America  owes 
many  of  her  mod  diftinguifhed  patriots  and  legif- 
lators*. 

Thus  he  proceeded,  guiding  with  uncommon 
reputation  and  fuccefs  the  courfe  of  education  in 
this  inftitution,  until  the  war  of  the  American  revo- 
lution fufpended  his  functions  and  difperfed  the 
college. 

*   More  than  thirty  mrmhns   of  th<  congrefs  of  United  America, 
Jince  the  formation  of  that  illuflrious  body,  have  been  (on s  ej  the  col- 
lege of  Neio-Jerfey  ;  and  amongfl  theft,  fome  of  their  Jirjl  characters 
for  teputation  end  ufefulnefs. 


L     34     ] 

Here  he  entered  upon  a  new  fcene,  and  ap- 
peared in  a  new  character;  widely  differing  from 
any,  in  which  he  had  been  heretofore  prefented  to 
the  public.  Yet,  here  alfo,  he  (hone  with  equal 
luftre;  and  his  talents  as  a  legiflator  and  fenator 
(hewed  the  extent  and  the  variety  of  the  powers  of 
his  mind.  There  are  few  foreigners  who  can, 
with  fuch  facility  as  he  did,  lay  aiide  their  preju- 
dices, and  enter  into  the  ideas  and  habits  of  a  new 
country,  and  a  new  ffate  of  fociety.  He  became 
almoft  at  once  an  American,  on  his  landing  among 
us,  and  in  the  unjuit  war  which  Great-Britain 
waged  againft  us,  he  immediately  adopted  the 
views,  and  participated  in  the  councils  of  the  Ame- 
ricans. His  diltinguimed  abilities  foon  pointed 
him  out  to  the  citizens  of  New- jerley,  as  one  of 
the  moft  proper  delegates  to  thru  convention  which 
formed  their  republican  conltitution.  In  this  ref- 
pectable  affembly  he  appeared,  to  the  aftonifhment 
of  all  the  profefiors  of  the  law,  as  profound  a  civi- 
lian, as  he  had  before  been  known  to  be  a  philofo- 
j)her  and  divine. 

From  the  revolutionary  committees  and  conven- 
tions of  the  ftatc,  he  was  lent,  early  in  the  year 
1776,  as  a  reprclentative  of  the  people  of  Ncw- 
Jerfey  to  the  congrefs  of  United  America  ;  he  was 
fevenyears  amember  of  that  illuMrious  body,  which, 
under  providence,  in  the  face  of  innumerable  dif- 
ficulties and  dangers,  led  us  on  to  the  cftablifhment 
ofour  independence.  Always  firm  in  the  moft  gloomy 
and  formidable  afpefts  of  public  affairs,  and  al- 
ways difcovering  the  greater!  reach  and  prefence  of 
mind,  in  the  moll  embarralfing  fituations. 

It  is  impoffible  here  to  enter  into  all  his  political 
ideas.  It  is  but  jultice  however  to  obferve,  that 
on  almoff  all  fubjetis  on  which  he  differed  from  the 


C     35     1 

majority  of  his  brethren  in  congrefs,  his  principles 
have  been  juftified  by  the  refult.  I  {hall  (elect  only 
one  or  two  examples.  He  conflantly  oppofed  the 
expenfive  mode  of  fupplying  the  army  by  commifjion^ 
v/hich  was  originally  adopted;  and  combated  it, 
until  after  a  long  experience  of  its  ill  effects,  he,  in 
conjunction  with  a  few  firm  and  judicious  afib- 
ciates,  prevailed  to  have  it  done  by  contract.* 

He  oppofed,  at  every  emifiion  after  the  firft  or" 
fecond,  and  even  hazarded  his  popularity  for  a 
time  by  the  ftrenuoufnefs  of  his  oppofition,  that 
paper  currency  which  gave  fuch  a  wound  to 
public  credit,  and  which  would  have  defeated  the 
revolution,  if  any  thing  could.t 

In  the  formation  of  the  original  confederation, 
he  complained  of  the  jcaloufy  and  ambition  of  the 
individual  ftates,  which  were  not  willing  to  entruft: 
the  general  government,  with  adequate  powers  for 
the  common  intereft.  He  then  pronounced  inef- 
ficacy  upon  it.  But  he  complained  and  remon- 
itrated  in  vain. J 

*  Congrefs  at  firft  fupplied  the.  army  by  allowing  a  certain  comiruf- 
fion  per  cent,  on  the  monies  that  the.  ccmmi/fioners  expended.  This  in- 
vited ex-pence.  At  length  they  were  induced  to  agree  to  the  mode  by 
contract  ;  or  allowing  to  the  purchaftr  a  certain  fum  per  ration. 

f  In/lead  of  emifp.ons  of  am  unfounded  paper,  hyond  a  certain 
quantum*  Dr.  Witherfpoon  urged  the  propriety  of  making  loans,  and 
ejtabliflxing  funds  for  the  payment  of  the  intire.fi  ;  which  in  the  tem- 
per of  the  public  mind,  he  thought  could  then  have  been  eafily  ejjetled. 
simerica  has  fince  regretted  that  jhe  had  noi  purfued  that  policy.  The. 
dcclcr  afterwards,  at  the  inflav.ee  of  fonif  of  the  v.  ry  gentlemen  who 
oppofed  him  in  congrefs.  puUif.ed  hi.,  idea*  on  tht  nature*  value  and 
vfes  of  money*  in  one  of  the  mofl  char  and  judicious  ejfays  that,  per- 
haps, was  eve)   written  on  the  fuhjttf, 

X  He  particularly  remonnra'cd  .-gait,;}  the  tardy*  inefficient  and 
fahhleft  manner  oj  providing  for 'the  public  exigencies  and  debts,  by 


[    36    ] 

C  rruled  however,  at  that  time,  in  thefe  and 
in  oil  -i  objects  of  importance,  he  had  the  fatisfac- 
tion  or  living  to  fee  America  revert,  in  almoft  every 
instance,  to  his  original  ideas — Ideas  founded  on  a 
jour.  J  a. id  penetrating  judgment,  and  matured  by- 
deep  reflection,  and  an  extenfive  obfervation  of 
racn  and  things.  But  I  forbear  to  trace  his  politi- 
cal career  farther  ;  and  fhall  only  add  here,  that 
w  tile  he  was  thus  engaged  in  ferving  his  country  in 
the  character  of  a  civilian,  he  did  NOT  lay  aide 
his  minijiry.  He  gladly  embraced  every  opportu- 
nity of  preaching,  and  of  discharging  the  other  du- 
ties of  his  office,  as  a  gofpel  minifter.  This  he 
considered  as  his  higheft  character,  and  honor  in 
life. 

The  college  having  been  collected  as  foon  as 
poffible  after  its  difperfion,  inflruclion  was  recom- 
menced under  the  immediate  care  of  the  vice-pre- 
fident.*     Dr.  Witherfpoon's  name,  however,  con- 

requifition  on  the  [aural  flatts.  He  in  fi  fled  on  the  propriety  and  nt- 
ceffity,  of  the  government  of  the  union  holding  in  its  own  hands  the 
entire  regulation  of  comtnerce,  and  the  revenues  that  might  he  derived 
from  that  fource.  Thefe  he  contended  would  be  adequate  to  all  t/ie 
wants  oj  the  United  States,  in  afeajon  of  peace. 

*  The  reverend  Dr.  Samuel  S.  Smith,  who  was  vnanimoufly  clwfen 
Dr.  Wither/boon's  fuccejfor,  en  the  fixth  day  of  May,  1795.  This 
gentleman 's  charafl.er  needs  no  tulogium  in  this  place.  His  fever  a  I 
publications,  and  particularly  his  ingenious  effhy  on  *'  The  caufes  of 
the  variety  of  complexion  and  figure  oj  the  human  fpechs"  ddivertd 
before  the  Philosophical  Society,  in  Philadelphia,  February  20th 
1787,  afford  fufficient  tefiimony  of  his  genius  and  learning.  The  la  ft 
mentioned  work  has  difliiituijked  him  in  the  ejlnr.ation  of  the  literati, 
both  in  Europe  and  America,  sis  foon  as  it  made  its  appearance  in 
Europe,  it  was  read  with  avidity — it  flxoitly  pajjed  under  more  edi- 
tions than  one  in  Great- Britain — it  was  tranjlated  into  the  French 
language,  and  publified,  with  great  eclat,  at  Paris — and  has  been 
fince  tranjlated  into  the  German  language,  and  publijhtd  with  anno- 
tations, by  a  profejfor  of  moral  philofophy.  in  our  of  the  urdvzrf.tiis  of 
that  empire* 


C     37     3 

rinued  to  add  celebrity  to  the  inftitution  ;  and  it 
has  fully  recovered  its  former  reputation. 

The  glorious  ftruggle  for  our  liberties  drawing 
to  an  honourable  period,  and  the  do&or  feeling 
age  advancing  upon  him,  was  defirous  of  refigning 
his  place  in  congrefs  :  and  would  have  fain  retired, 
in  a  meafure,  from  the  burdens  of  the  college. 

But  notwithftanding  his  wifh  for  repofe,  he  was 
induced,  through  his  attachment  to  the  inftitution, 
over  which  he  had  fo  long  prefided,  once  more  to 
erofs  the  ocean  to  promote  its  benefit.  The  fruit  of 
that  voyage  was  not  indeed  anfwerable  to  our 
wifhes ;  but  we  are  not  the  lefs  indebted  to  his  en- 
terprize  and  zeal. 

After  his  return  to  this  country,  finding  nothing 
to  obftruft  his  entering  on  that  retirement,  which 
was  now  become  more  dear  to  him  ;  he  withdrew, 
in  a  great  meafure,  except  on  fome  important  occa- 
fions,  from  the  exercife  of  thofe  public  functions 
that  were  not  immediately  connected  with  the  du- 
ties of  his  office,  as  prefident  of  the  college,  or  his 
character  as  a  minifter  of  the  gofpel. 

Aecuftomed  to  order  and  regularity  in  buftnefs 
from  his  youth,  he  perfevered  in  his  attention  to 
them  through  his  whole  life.  And  I  may  add,  there 
was  nothing  in  which  his  punctuality  and  exa£tnefs 
were  more  lacredly  obferved,  than  in  the  devotional 
exercifes  of  the  chriftian  life.  Befides  the  daily 
devotions  of  the  clofet,  and  the  family,  it  was  his 
dated  practice  to  oblerve  the  lad  day  of  every 
year,  with  his  family,  as  a  day  of  fading,  humilia- 
tion and  prayer:  and  it  was  alfo  his  practice,  to  I'd 
apart  d^ys  for  fecret  fading  and  prayer,  as  occafion 
fupgeded. 

F 


[    ss    ] 

Bodily  infirmities  began  at  length  to  come  upon 
him.  For  more  than  two  years  before  his  death,  he 
was  afili£led  with  the  lofs  of  fight;  which  contri- 
buted to  haften  the  progrefs  of  his  other  diforders. 
'i  hefe  he  bore  with  a  patience,  and  even  a  cheerful- 
i\eh,  rarely  to  be  met  with,  in  the  inoft  eminent  for 
wifdom  and  piety.  Nor  would  his  aOive  mind, 
and  his  denre  of  ufefulnefs  to  the  end,  permit  him, 
even  in  this  iituation,  to  defift  from  the  exercife  of 
his  miniitry,  and  his  duties  in  the  college,  as  far  as 
his  health  and  ftrength  would  admit.  He  was  Ire- 
tjuently  led  into  the  pulpit,  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  during  his  blindnefs;  and  always  acquitted 
himfelf  with  his  ufual  accuracy,  and  frequently, 
with  more  than  his  ufual  folemnity  and  animation. 
And  we  all  recollect  the  propriety  and  dignity  with 
which  he  prelided  at  the  la  It  commencement.  He 
was  bleii  with  the  ufe  of  his  realoning  powers  to 
the  very  laft. 

At  length,  however,  he  funk  under  the  accumu- 
lated pieifure  of  his  infirmities  ;  and  on  the  15th 
day  of  November,  1 794,  in  the  feventy  third  year  of 
his  age,  he  retired  to  his  eternal  relt,  full  of  honor 
and  full  of  days — there  to  receive  the  plaudit  of 
his  Lord,  "  weli  done  thou  good  and  faithful  fer- 
vant,  thou  halt  been  faithful  over  a  few  things, 
be  thou  ruler  over  many  things ;  enter  thou  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 


N      I      S. 


|"i 


-••J" 


